Clumber Spaniel advice please

[Marc Fournier]

Does anyone know about the Clumber Spaniel? How is it as a house dog? Is
it a useful field breed? How hardy are they and are there any long term
health problems? Breeders in Canada or North Eastern States?

Marc Fournier
Renfrew, Ontario.

[pswarts]

Marc,

Field Clumbers are very rare, I think there are one or two breeders in
England. There seems to be some eye-problems in the breed, and work isn,t
like ESS or ECS.
The work slow and have a name as old people,s gundogs.

Paul

[Laura Reeves]

In article <32F284...@renc.igs.net>, Marc Fournier
<shan...@RENC.IGS.NET> wrote:

The Clumber Spaniel makes a truly fine pet companion and hunter. For a
house dog their biggest draw-back is they shed copiously. They live 10-12
years easily and they are able to work in the field for at least 8-9
years. Cold weather doesn't bother them. They like the snow. Extremely
hot, dry conditions make scenting difficult for them, as they tend to pant
and not use their nose as well. As a breed they can exhibit moderate eye
problems such as entropia, which is easily corrected by surgery if the dog
is not going to be shown. They can also have cervical disc and hip
problems, but these are becoming far less common as more breeders are
testing their breeding stock for hip displaysia.

Clumbers are very thorough field workers. They use their noses very well,
but they do not hunt so fast that you need a horse to keep up. They are
generally good swimmers and enjoy working waterfowl, as well as grouse,
quail and pheasant. Most breeders will tell you that an adult Clumber
spends 70% of its life sleeping. But when you're ready to go hunting,
he'll be there, ready to go with you.

Sue Gariepy is a breeder in Toronto, Canada (I believe). And Jane
Bonaccorso is in Central New Hampshire. (Jane just happens to be my mother
who was visiting and provided this information for the group.<grin> She is
also the current president of the Clumber Spaniel Club of America and
owned and bred the first field worked and titled Clumbers in this
country.)

--
l.r. clyde

[PErcoli]

Clumbers are used extensively as gundogs and blood trackers in
Scandenavia. They are also used alot in the UK and there are several
breeders who breed dual purpose dogs. In the states however, they are not
bred specifically for the field, though there are lines available which
offer the best of both worlds. Darrell Reeves(Woodsman) in Oregon is the
prime example of someone who both hunts & shows his dogs. He is an
excellent trainer(not only of Clumbers, but of various other gundogs)knows
the hunting style of the breed more than anyone else, and has put numerous
working titles on Clumbers.He has helped to train and handle my Clumber
who has his WD & JH, which he received in a long weekend by passing all in
five days in a row. There are also others involved who hunt their dogs
including Dan Connell of Washington (Cameo), Robert Thomas NY, Elaine
Brent, Ohio, Bill Tull, Ca(Alpine), Charlotte Newton, MA(Stanwick), Gary
Almeida, MA & Bob Tannehill, WI. Clumbers are very oral dogs & natural
born retrievers. They are more graceful on land than water, and are
excellent splashless swimmers. They were developed to keep up all day on
foot using a continuous pace. What the Clumber excells in is finding the
cripples & dead birds that have fallen deep within the thickets & brushes
that most retrievers & spaniels miss. Their heavy mass enables them to
break through the barriers alot of dogs have trouble doing. They hunt
mostly with their noses to the ground, their heavy brow falling forward to
protect their eyes. I feel they make very fine field dogs, especially for
the weekend hunter who isn't into a crazy, hyper energetic dog, and one
who wants to keep up with & not loose sight of his dog. Their hunting
style is as easy going as their tempermeants and they are very thorough
and have excellent noses. Although there are no specifically bred field
Clumbers(some lines however, Welladays, Belcrum, Leybel, Greencourt, etc.
have stronger drives and are more biddable than others), I would tend to
think any CLumber will hunt and is worth it's weight in the field.
Fortunately they still have it in their blood.
Paula E
Bella Vita Clumber Spaniels